Tallaringa Conservation Park

For a four-wheel driving adventure, travel along the Anne Beadell Highway, a rough bush track which starts on the eastern edge of the park and ends at Laverton in Western Australia over 1,300km away. A great taste of wilderness!

On the western side of Mabel Creek Station, about 100km from Coober Pedy, lies Tallaringa Conservation Park. This vast wilderness of vegetated dunes and gibber rises is home to an incredible array of wildlife species uniquely adapted to their arid environment.

This park is particularly impressive in the months following rain that produces an abundance of bird-attracting flowering annual plants. There are at least seven species of mulga found co-existing in the park, which is rare.

Opening hours

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A tourist access permit is required to access this area from the Department of Defence. Pleas note that access to the park may be restricted due to local road conditions, the Desert Parks Bulletin provides important and current information on access and road conditions.

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

Listen to the local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.

Pets in parks

Facilities

There are campsites where campfires are permitted within this park.

Useful information

Access to the park may be restricted due to local road conditions or according to requirements by the Department of Defence. The Desert Parks Bulletin provides important and current information on access and road conditions.

Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.

Traditional owners

Aboriginal South Australians are the first peoples of our State and have occupied, enjoyed and managed these lands and waters since the creation. For SA's First Peoples, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.

Aboriginal peoples' oral histories and creation stories traverse the length and breadth of Australia’s lands and waters, including South Australian Parks. These stories interconnect land and waters with complex meaning and values and hold great cultural significance. We recognise and respect Aboriginal people's ownership of their stories and that they hold rights and obligations to care for Country. It is through these rights and cultural obligations and a shared goal to protect the environment for generations to come that DEWNR is committed to meaningful collaboration and involvement with Aboriginal peoples in the management of our shared parks.

Mountain biking

Stay in the park

Camping

Self-sufficient bush camping is permitted within 50 metres of the Anne Beadell Highway (there are no facilities). Please note you must book prior to arrival and a tourist access permit is required to access this area from the Department of Defence.

4WD

For a four-wheel driving adventure, travel along the Anne Beadell Highway, a rough bush track, which commences on the eastern edge of the park and ends at Laverton in Western Australia over 1,300km away.

Camping

When camping in a National Park, it's important to remember the following:

Always let someone responsible know your travel plans, especially when travelling in remote areas. It's a good idea to let them know when you expect to return.

Check the weather forecast before you leave, including overnight temperatures on the Bureau of Meteorology. Even during very mild weather, the nights can get very cold.

The quality and quantity of water cannot be guaranteed within parks. Please bring plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.

Always camp in designated sites (where applicable) - do not camp beneath trees with overhanging branches, as they can drop without warning. It's also a good idea to check that there no insect nests nearby.

Check to make sure you're not camping in a natural waterway, flash floods can happen anytime.

If camp fires are permitted, you must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Extinguish your camp fire with water (not sand or dirt) until the hissing sound stops.

Do not take your vehicle off the designated tracks. Wildlife can be threatened and precious habitat and indigenous sites can be damaged by off track driving.

Make sure you know what to do in the event of getting bogged and always carry a shovel.

When driving on sand, deflate your tyres as appropriate for your vehicle. Don’t forget to reinflate your tyres to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure before leaving the park. Take care when lowering tyre pressure as there is risk you could roll the tyre off its rim. Also, remember that lower tyre pressure can mean a change in how the vehicle handles.

Parks maps

Maps on your mobile

If you have a smartphone or tablet you can download the free Avenza PDF Map app and have interactive national park maps on hand when you need them.

The app uses your device's built-in GPS to plot your real-time location within the park onto a map. The app can be used without a network connection and without roaming charges. You can also measure area and distance, plot photos and drop placemark pins.

How to get it working on your device:

1. Download the Avenza PDF maps app from the app store whilst you are still in range (its free!).
2. Open up the app and click the shopping cart icon.
3. Click ‘Find’ and type the name of the national park or reserve you are looking for.
4. Click on the map you are after and install it (all our maps are free).
5. You will now find a list of your installed maps on the home page of the Avenza app.
6. Use our maps through the Avenza PDF map app while in the park and never take a wrong turn again.